Scaffold



Jam, N9 E943 J. F. RONEY Ema.

SCAFFOLD Filed April l, 1941 75L AVA/M] Patented Jan. 19, 1943 UNITED 2,308,832 scAFFoLD John F. Roney and Richard W. Page, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 1, 1941, Serial No. 386,231

4 Claims.

This invention relates to scalolds.

Scaffolding is used for various purposes in the building arts, and is usually of temporary character. The present invention has to do with structural members entering into the fabrication 0f a scaffold, the structural members preferably being formed of metal, and in such a manner that scaffolding may be readily assembled to any height desired, with suitable platforms at various levels of the scaffolding to enable workers to perform whatever function may be required of them.

The present invention is particularly adaptable for ship construction, in that the members may be assembled with great rapidity to any height, and assure that the scaffolding when erected will be strong, stable, and not liable to side-sway, to enable laborers to work at different levels, as required.

Particularly, the invention contemplates a form of scaffolding wherein the worker may readily mount the scaffolding to reach a platform. Scaffolding as now used usually incorporates some eX- terior ladder or stairway leading to the scaffold platform, but in the majority of cases, said ladders are extraneous members requiring that they be attached to the scaffolding in some manner, and generally presenting an obstacle. Furthermore, space may be limited and scaffolding at best utilizes space which may be necessary for the construction of the building, ship, or other object. Consequently, it is necessary where space must be conserved, to have a scaffolding which is stable and still permits the workmen to reach any desired level of the scaffolding with ease while handling tools or carrying a load.

An object of the present invention is the provision of certain structural members entering into the fabrication of a scaffold which permits rapid assemblage thereof, provides a medium whereby the scaifold may be mounted without y Figure 1 is a fragmentary detail of a scaffold embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the scaiold shown in Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrow 2,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, and,

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Figure 3.

Referring now specically to Figure 3, we have shown at I a frame comprising a pair of upright posts or struts 2 and 3 held in substantially par- `allel working relationship through the medium of transverse bars 4, of which there may be a plurality in equally spaced, substantially parallel relationship, as illustrated in Figure 2, and throughout the length of the struts or upright posts 2 and 3. The spacing between the upright posts or struts 2 and 3 need not be over six inches, or just sufcient to accommodate a human foot. In this respect, therefore, the members 4 in addition to becoming braces for preventing any weaving of the members 2 and 3, likewise function as one form of ladder whereby access may be had to other structural members, as hereinafter detailed. The said uprights or struts may be tubular in form, as illustrated at 5, and one end of each strut carries a reduced diameter pin 6, the opposite end of the struts being open. Hence, different frames may be rapidly assembled by the pin ends being received within the tubes of a further frame, as illustrated in Figure 3. The length of the pins is sufcient to properly support the second frame upon the rst without any fear of disconnection therebetween, and the frames are preferably of the same diameter so that the pin end of each tubel acts as a shoulder for the end of the tubes of a further supported frame.

Assuming that some form of scaiold is to be erected, we may provide, as illustrated in Figure 2, a series of frames of the character shown in Figure 3, telescopically associated as shown in Figure 2 at 'I and 8 for two of the frames, and 9 and I I] for a second pair of said frames. If a platform is to be placed at a given level, we interconnect and brace the frames by a member II which, as a unit, comprises a top chord I2, and a bottom chord I3, with diagonal bracing I4 between said chords.` It will be noted that the bracing constitutes a modied Warren truss. To secure the truss between the frames 8 and I 0, we have provided means of the character illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, which means directly carries the upper and lower chords I2 and I3 of the truss. Specifically, a long U-shaped sleeve I5 is provided on one leg of the U, with a bayonet slot I6 and with an inwardly directed end slot I'I. Thus, to assemble the truss I`I, and having selected a given height of the frames, one of the transverse pieces 4 of each frame enters the end slots I'I, as shown in Figure 4, and at the same time a transverse member 4 of each frame enters the bayonet slots, and when the truss is allowed to drop, the transverse pieces are locked within the said slots. In this case,

we have assumed four frame members, with a single truss II interconnected therewith. The addition of further frame members is contemplated, as illustrated in Figure 1, and a'like procedure is followed for the additional frame members, with said frames braced by diagonals i8. Flanking, or other means, may be applied between the top chords of the two trusses to provide a platform upon which workmen may walk.

It will be observed that no external ladders are present or necessary. However, the transverse pieces 4, which act to brace the frames, may act as the rungs of a ladder and workmen readily ascend to the platform carried by the top chords of the trusses. It is evident that any height of scaffolding may result from the construction shown, and that the method of detache ably holding the trusses in -position of service with the framing is such as to give a rigid structure. Thus, in Figure 2, we have shown a second trussat I9, which may be joined to a further structural unit, with the result that all of the4 trusses may be in alignment. The two uprights or struts, together with the members 4 interconnecting the same, allow the different truss members to be secured to a unit frame and to be maintained in alignment, as shown, with the two 'trusses utilizing 'the same interconnecting membersd of the frame.l This is a feature ofimportance in the present invention, and allows for the proper assemblage of the different members forming the scaffold to any'width of platform desired, and to any height. It is often feasible, when building a very high scaffold, to extend the scaffold horizontally, to assure that the scaffold will notv tip under load.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are undoubtedly obvious to those familiar with scaffold construction. However, it may be stated that the frames are readily assemblable one upon the other, due to the pin ends of said frames entering the tubular ends of sustained frames, and to any height desired. At certain heights, the trusses may be placed between adjacent frame members; in fact, the trusses may be used entirely in lieu of cross braces, or the usual cross bracing may be resorted to where the span between frames is of considerable distance. Obviously, the spacing of the frames will depend upon the load to be sustained by the scaffold and the character of work to be performed thereby. When the trusses are connected to the transverse members 4 of the frame members, it is obvious that the trusses are not easily moved, due to' the" weight thereof. However, two workmen may easily remove the same by lifting directly upwardly upon the truss member to permit the upper transverse piece 4 to escape the bayonet slots I whereupon the lower transverse piece' Furthermore, it is not` always easy to tie a scaffold to, say, a brick wall, during construction thereof.

lwill result, and that exterior bracing members,

such as guys, and the like, or means for attaching the scaffolding to the ship hull itself, are quite unnecessary. Steps may be provided between the scaffolding member and leading to platforms, if desired, although the members 4 act as a ready means whereby workmen may ascend to a platform. Thus, the members 4 function for several purposes, to-wit: act as rungs for a ladder and likewise act as a medium for connection of brace members to the frames.

It may be observed that the frames may be turned 'in any direction desired, so as to suit all available space, it not being necessary that the frames face, as shown in Figure 2, but may face as shown in Figure 1, with the trusses interposed between said frames, as shown in Figure 1, in lieu of the diagonals I8;

Referring to Figure 5, it is to be observed that one leg I9 of the U-shaped sleeve is of lgreater width than the other leg 20. l This construction is not absolutely essential, although it is expedient in that the leg I9 carries the slots I6 and Il. The leg 20 has secured thereto the upper and lower chords. The method of securing the sleeve to the chords is not important, and-may be done by welding, or otherwise.

We claim: Y Y Y 1. A scaffold including a frame having a pair of struts, spaced transverse braces between said.

struts, a truss, a sleeve carried at one end cfsaid truss, said sleeve formedto embrace one of ,said` uprights for engagement between two of .said braces.

2. A scaffold including a frameand a truss;

said frame comprising a pair of struts, spaced transverse braces secured between said struts, and a sleeve carried by said truss and provided with spaced apart slots, two of said transverse braces adapted tol enter said slots for holding said sleeve in position on one of said struts.

3. A scaffold including aY pair of frames, each comprising pairs'of uprights, and spaced apart transverse members secured therebetween; a truss provided at each end'with a U-shaped sleeve, said U-shaped sleeve formed with slots.

said slots adapted to receive pairs of transverse braces of each frame to maintain said frames spaced apart.

4. A scaffold including a pair of frames, each comprising a pair of uprights, and spaced vapart transverse members secured therebetween; a truss provided at leach end with a U-shaped sleeve, said U-shaped sleeve formed with slots, said slots adapted to receive pairs of transverse braces of each frame to maintain saidframes spaced apart, a ,second pair of frames,` and a` truss member therebetween, and diagonal bracing between said frames. l

' JOHN F. RONEY.'

I RICHARD w. PAGE.A Y 

